AULAFYCurso abierto de inglés C1
HomeCoursePalliative Care, Death & Dying ConversationsUse of English
Palliative Care, Death & Dying ConversationsL07
use_of_english

Use of English

Transformation, word formation and precision work in Cambridge C1 style.

50 minC1c1use_of_englishpalliative-care-death-dying-conversationspalliativedeathconversationsword formation

Lesson objectives

  • Improve grammatical precision and collocational control.
  • Practise exam-style transformations and word formation systematically.
  • Connect structure and lexis back to the unit theme of palliative care, death & dying conversations.

Part 1 — Word formation

Instructions: Read the text below. Use the word in CAPITALS at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. For C1 level, pay attention to prefixes, suffixes, and noun/adgective/adverb changes.

The transition from curative treatment to palliative care can be an emotionally _ (1) process for both patients and their families. While the focus shifts from curing an illness to managing symptoms, the _ (2) of the patient's comfort remains paramount. It is often difficult to have these ___ (3) conversations, yet they are essential to ensure that the patient's final wishes are respected.

Medical professionals must approach these discussions with extreme _ (4), acknowledging the profound grief that often accompanies such news. The _ (5) of death is a universal human experience, yet it remains one of the most _ (6) topics to navigate in a clinical setting. Effective communication requires a high level of _ (7) and empathy to prevent misunderstandings. Ultimately, providing a dignified end-of-life experience is a testament to the ___ (8) of compassionate healthcare.

  1. DISTRESS
  2. PRIMARY
  3. DIFFICULT
  4. SENSITIVE
  5. INEVITABILITY
  6. CHALLENGE
  7. UNDERSTAND
  8. VALUABLE

Part 2 — Key word transformations

Instructions: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given. 1. The doctor made the family sit down to discuss the prognosis. | HAD → The doctor ____ the family sit down to discuss the prognosis. 2. I finally managed to convince my grandfather to write his will. | GOT → I finally ___ my grandfather to write his will. 3. The nurse allowed the patient to see her family one last time. | LET → The nurse __ her family in to see her one last time. 4. My sister assisted me in making the difficult decisions regarding my father's care. | HELPED → My sister __ the difficult decisions regarding my father's care. 5. The specialist insisted that we undergo further testing before making a decision. | MADE → The specialist __ further testing before making a decision. 6. We had the hospice staff organise the final arrangements for the patient. | GOT → We _____ the final arrangements for the patient.

Answer key

  1. distressing
  2. primacy
  3. difficult
  4. sensitivity
  5. inevitability
  6. challenging
  7. understanding
  8. value
  9. had
  10. got my grandfather to write
  11. let
  12. helped me make
  13. made us undergo
  14. got the hospice staff to organise